When a relative struggles with an alcohol or drug dependency, the whole household is impacted.
One sign of addictive behavior is communication problems between family members and addicts. When sincere efforts to help are ineffective, friends and family members may feel frustrated and full of despair. Addiction consistently affects those in the addict’s life.
Family members might have attempted to address the addiction when it started, but to no avail. It is difficult for addicts to believe they have an issue, which is why they will often keep their substance abuse a secret. They frequently isolate themselves, feeling misunderstood, and cut off communication with family members. At this time, they associate closely with friends who are understanding of their habit. Strong communication is a crucial lifeline to recovery. A patient, understanding approach can mend communication breakdowns.
It is not uncommon to see relatives and friends unknowingly undertake the positioning of “co-dependent” or “enabler.” This can feed the addiction and jeopardize the addict’s recovery. For many family members, this tactic is merely a way of coping with the continual substance abuse chaos. This is not a solution, even if the intentions are good. The destructive behavior will only stop when the individual realizes the necessity within themselves. Hiding or excusing the addict will only hinder their sobriety.
When confronted with addiction, people with inexperienced coping systems sometimes join the addict in embracing alcohol, drugs or gambling, even succumbing to addiction themselves.
Living with an addict can be very lonely. You might experience fear, shame, hopelessness, depression, anger and frustration. You are not alone, and you are not at fault. Many others are in the same situation. The addict is in their situation because of complex psychological and emotional issues, even if you are enabling them. It is critical that individuals who have been affected by the unhealthy behavior also go through counselling to assist them with these difficult feelings.
What does Addiction do to Children?
Addiction frequently produces a dysfunctional family atmosphere. Parents who are struggling with addiction are often not healthy enough to effectively safeguard, discipline or care for their kids, depriving them of fundamental life abilities. These children often experience feelings of abandonment or insecurity. They may be forced to take on adult tasks to accommodate their dysfunctional parent. Families that have addiction problems may produce children with antisocial behavior and a range of mental disorders.
